Obituaries

Claude Huff
July 12, 1893-Feb. 15, 1963

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, February 16, 1963, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Claude Huff, 69, of 2657 Lake Shore Drive, died Friday in Santa Cruz, Calif., while visiting his daughter, Mrs. Bernard Murray, Oakland, Calif.

Mr. Huff was born here July 12, 1893, and lived his lifetime in this area. He served as a Berrien County deputy sheriff form 1933 to 1941, and was chief plant protection manager for National-Standard Co., from 1941 until his retirement. He was married in May, 1943, to Wilma Winquist. She survives.

Other survivors include a son, Robert Huff, and a sister, Miss Viola Huff, both of South Bend and seven grandchildren.

The body is being moved to the Pifer Funeral Home. Arrangements are incomplete.

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, February 19, 1963, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Claude Huff, 69, of 2657 Lake Shore Drive, who died Friday, will be conducted at 2 p.m., Wednesday in the Pifer Funeral Home. Dr. Maurice McKean, pastor of the First Methodist Church, will officiate. Committal rites conducted by the Niles Elks Lodge will follow in Silverbrook Cemetery.

He was a past exalted ruler of the Niles Elks, and a member of St. Joseph Valley Lodge, No. 4, Order of Free and Accepted Masons.

Friends are being received at the funeral home.

Ray McBain
July 12, 1908-Feb. 16, 1963

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, February 16, 1967, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Ray McBain, 54, 2129 Lewis Drive, died at 2:10 a.m. today in Pawating Hospital. He had been ill two weeks.

Mr. McBain, an employe of the National-Standard Co., was born July 12, 1908, in New Carlisle, Ind. He came to Niles in 1920.

Survivors include his widow, Glenda; two daughters, Mrs. Catherine Boyle, Niles, and Mrs. Betty Clubb, Flint; two sisters, Mrs. George Hempel and Mrs. Otto Everman, both of Niles; three brothers, George, Berrien Springs, and Joe and Everett, both of Niles; and four grandchildren.

He was a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church, a veteran of World War II, and a member of the American Legion and the Disabled American Veterans.

Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m, Monday in the Pifer Funeral Home.  The Rev. Kenneth G. Carey, pastor of his church will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends will be received at the funeral home after 7 p.m. today.

Catherine French
Jan. 23, 1892-Feb. 14, 1963

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, February 12, 1963, page 2, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Catherine French, 71 of 516 Nieb Court, died at 12:25 p.m, Thursday in the Berrien County Hospital. She had been ill two years.

Mrs. French was born Jan. 23, 1892, in Braidwood, Ill. She came to Niles from that city 30 years ago.  Her husband, Samuel, died in 1951.

Survivors include three sons, William, Henry and John, all of Niles; a daughter, Mrs. John Tolliver, Niles; a sister, Mrs. Rose Kayser, New York, N.Y.; two brothers, Peter Fassino, Coello, Ill., and Dominic Fassino, Gardner, Ill.; and 10 grandchildren.

She was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church.

Funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m., Saturday in her church, The Rev. Cletus M. Rose, pastor, will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Prayer services will be conducted at 8:30 p.m. tonight in the Pifer Funeral Home, where friends are being received.

Gertrude E. Ostrander
July 20, 1885-Feb. 11, 1963

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, February 12, 1963, page 2, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Gertrude E. Ostrander, 77, of 1438 Oak St., died at 9 p.m., Monday at the Ravines Foundation, Berrien Springs. She had been ill four months.

Mrs. Ostrander was born July 20, 1885 in Muskegon, and spent most of her life in the Niles area. She was married here in 1904 to L.W. Ostrander. He survives.

Other survivors include a daughters, Mrs. Aleta Styers, Niles; two sons, John, Niles, and Lloyd, South Bend; two brothers, Ray and Carrol Mell, both of Niles; four grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.

She was a member of the First Church of Christ, Scientist.

Christian Science Funeral Services will be conducted at 2 p.m., Thursday in the Pifer Funeral Home. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends are being received at the funeral home.

Ursela Wellingham
May 4, 1902-Feb. 3, 1963

Niles Daily Star, Monday, February 4, 1963, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Mrs. Ursela Wellingham, 60, of 1539 Inner Drive, will be conducted at 2 p.m., Wednesday in the First Presbyterian Church. The Rev. G. Dean Goebel, First Presbyterian minister, and the Rev. Kenneth G. Carey, pastor of the Westminster Presbyterian Church, will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

She died at 6:10 a.m., Sunday in Pawating Hospital where she had been a patient since Dec. 17.

Mrs. Wellingham was born May 4, 1902 in Toledo, Ohio. She came to Niles from Adrian in 1924.  Her husband, Paul E., died April 30, 1959.

Survivors include four daughters, Mrs. James Gallagher, Niles, Mrs. James Magnees, Lansing, Mrs. Rodney Baum, Loveland, Colo., and Mrs. Martin Robinson, Chicago; a sister, Mrs. Clare Wilson, Tempe, Ariz., ; and six grandchildren.

She was a member of the Pythian Sisters, the Past Chiefs of the Pythian Sisters, and the Lady Trainmen Auxiliary, Maple City Lodge No. 190.

Friends will be received at the Pifer Funeral Home after 7 p.m., today.

Edna M. Gridley
Nov. 14, 1897-Feb. 2, 1963

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, February 2, 1963, page 2, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Edna M. Gridley, 65, of 916 N. 3rd St., died at 5:15 a.m., today in Pawating Hospital. She had been ill for six months and a patient at the hospital for five days.

She was born Nov. 14, 1897. She had lived her life at the N. 3rd Street home.

Mrs. Gridley was a member of the St.John Evangelical and Reformed Church, the Eastern Star, White Shrine and the Friendship Circle of the church.

Survivors include a niece, Mrs. James Smallwood, of Niles, two nephews, Scott C. Walter, of Niles, and W. Keith Walter, of Slidel, La.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Monday at the St. John's Evangelical and Reformed church, 601 Sycamore St., with the Rev. Richard Frazer officiating. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call at the Kiger Funeral Home.